Washington (CNN) – Rep. Michele Bachmann is the winner of a recent straw poll among evangelical and Christian conservative voters, the latest sign the Minnesota Republican may enjoy significant support from that key voting bloc if she decides to run for president.

Bachmann took 23 percent of the vote in a Liberty University straw poll conducted after a two-day gathering of evangelicals at the Christian college that addressed a range of issues, including "abortion, the economy, religious liberty, marriage and homosexuality, [and] Sharia Law," according the school's website.
Bachmann did not appear at the event in person but delivered a video-taped address. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who also did not appear at the event, garnered 22 percent in the straw poll while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who addressed the crowd Friday, received 21 percent.

Meanwhile, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum was the victor in a straw poll at the Greenville County Republican Party convention over the weekend.

Santorum was one of three potential candidates to address Saturday's convention. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Gingrich also spoke there.
- CNN's Peter Hamby contributed to this report

soundoff(49 Responses)

Once she does enter the race and has to be on stage every day her many flaws will be exposed. She is an unintelligent fraud, of flavor of the day that will sour quickly.

April 12, 2011 10:16 am at 10:16 am |

Florida Joe

PLEASE give us this MORON to run against..........

April 12, 2011 10:17 am at 10:17 am |

lynn

The GOP is stuck on rewind. The same stale idologies of family values, christianity and evangelical. That's not what the U.S. needs in a global society, can you just see Bachmann, Palin or Trump confront the middle-east potentates with their holier than though attitude?

April 12, 2011 10:17 am at 10:17 am |

Doug

I disagree with her on a number of issues but she would get my vote because unlike every Democrat, Michelle and I are in agreement that we would never wish harm on our fellow Americans because of their political views.

April 12, 2011 10:18 am at 10:18 am |

Jim Otterholt

I am a Republican and I work for the Federal Government. i do not live high on the hog as many believe governmemt workers do. I live pretty much pay check to pay check as do probably around 400,000+ federal workers. You shut down the government, you shut down my family. It took years to get where we are in fical irresponsibility. You can not turn back the tide in a couple of months. Use some sense in changing things, don't hurt not only me, but much of the nation in the cutting of spending. Keep in mind, most of us do not have fat bank accounts. You hurt the populace in this and you will probably be unemployed yourself in 2012.

April 12, 2011 10:20 am at 10:20 am |

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ

She is too far to the right to be a really acceptable candidate to the whole country. Given the group that gave her high marks, it isn't a surprise. She doesn't fully understand what the government does and just wants to cut it arbitratily.

April 12, 2011 10:20 am at 10:20 am |

Ex-GOP Con

Now if only a real true conservative could win the GOP nominee instead of these government growers. Keep religion where it belons-in the church!

April 12, 2011 10:22 am at 10:22 am |

Wire Palladin, S. F.

Most communities would be better off with a mosque in the neighborhood than it would be with a branch of the Westboro Baptist Church or a congregation from the Army of God.

April 12, 2011 10:23 am at 10:23 am |

P.B.

Finally, a candidate who can intellectualize American History and the Constitution of the United States of America – LOL !

April 12, 2011 10:26 am at 10:26 am |

Wire Palladin, S. F.

Sarah Palin appears to have become merely a drip of water in the tsunami of craziness of the right wingnuts.

April 12, 2011 10:26 am at 10:26 am |

Wire Palladin, S. F.

Show me the WMDs.

April 12, 2011 10:27 am at 10:27 am |

terdy, va

Good. If she gets the nod, it will be the biggest landslide in our history for Obama re-election.

April 12, 2011 10:28 am at 10:28 am |

Gary, Hunt Valley, Md.

As Iowa scratches its collective chin and gazes at this strange, stupid, screeching creature from the Great North, mainstream America yawns. And some charitable soul donates an American History 101 textbook to The Creature, and offers to read it aloud to her before submitting her to a pop quiz. Sadly, The Creature declines, preferring to reinvent history as she muddles along, sharpening her arsenal of failing punch lines.

April 12, 2011 10:32 am at 10:32 am |

Ernie

It's far to early yet, the elections is 17 months away, a lot can happen in 17 months. The only thing Michelle Bachman can do is keep up the pressure on Obama. If more states try to get away from Collectrive Bargining this would be a plus for Miceelle Bachman and a loss to Obama. Without the unions Obama is a "One and Done" President and he knows it. So for right now the "Pressure" has to be kept on Obama, Obama has shown that he caves under "Pressure"

April 12, 2011 10:35 am at 10:35 am |

keeth in cali

And yet she'll still never be elected as President. These people only associate with small groups of similar-minded people that they can't see the country at large will never elect them (Bachmann, Santorum, Trump, Palin, Gingrich, Pawlenty, Huckabee). The only serious contender is Romney, but he has RomneyCare hanging around his neck.

April 12, 2011 10:37 am at 10:37 am |

Me

The only reason Michele Bachmann can win a straw poll is because the voters think she needs it for her poor, gov't subsidized farms in MN.

April 12, 2011 10:38 am at 10:38 am |

Senor Ed

Wow, yahoos supporting a yahoo. Now that's news.

April 12, 2011 10:42 am at 10:42 am |

As if they speak for all of us

Yep, Liberty University really speaks for the rest of America. Talk about a minuscule part of American society.

April 12, 2011 10:46 am at 10:46 am |

Madtown

Dear Lord, how much farther can the office of President of the United States be dumbed down?! Incomprehensible how a person like this can even be in the conversation as a legitimate candidate.

It certainly didn't just start with W, but just look at the last few presidents: W, Obama, now this empty-head is talked about in presidential terms? Unreal. No wonder this country is a laughingstock. Whatever happened to the notion that the President of the United States should be the cream of the crop? The best we have to offer?

April 12, 2011 10:54 am at 10:54 am |

Al-NY,NY

Straw is the only thing in these zealots' heads as they endorse the women from MN who is so far out there and stands no chance of doing anything but looking moronic. I see that the real tough issues are being stressed at this meeting "including abortion, the economy, religious liberty, marriage and homosexuality, [and] Sharia Law," according the school's website." I'm surprised that the economy got any mention as these thumpers care more about their interpretation of a book than anything else

April 12, 2011 10:54 am at 10:54 am |

Jon in Rochester NY

I think that the Tea Party needs their own candidate and Michelle Bachmann would be perfect. Why are they riding on the coat tails of the Washington established GOP? If they really wanted change, they would run their own candidate that shares their values in the presidential race instead of backing the GOP candidate. The fact that they do back the GOP candidate only goes to prove that they are just the right wing extreme of the Republican party.

April 12, 2011 10:55 am at 10:55 am |

James

What a scary human being. But what is even more disturbing are those close minded humans who seem to relish her narrow, myopic and divisive mentality. She certainly will have the vote from the bigoted, god fearing fundamentalists who have hijacked the true essence Christianity... the fearful, the sheep, the conspiracists, the homophobics, the anti-intellectuals, the small minded, the non-global thinkers, the bible quoters and the boogeyman believers. You know, she just might get elected!

April 12, 2011 10:56 am at 10:56 am |

ThinkAgain

"Bachmann did not appear at the event in person but delivered a video-taped address."

Has she worked out that looking-at-the-camera thing yet? She's creepy enough as it is when she's looking straight-ahead ...

April 12, 2011 11:00 am at 11:00 am |

rusty155

Michele Bachmann has no chance of winning most of American People are trier of The Tea Party. The Tea Party Is nothing but Corporate Drones. All they want Is take everything from the Middle Class ,the POOR and The OLD and give It to the Rich. The TEA PARTY Is nothing but rich people , that why they can go all over America and be In these Rally driving 250,000 RV , than when people started to say something about them driving them they started hiding them away from the Rally. plus they have the KOCH'S BROTHER and a few other Billionaire to help pay for thing. Now here the the thing I'M trying to get a cross to you American people , Have you ever seen a Billionaire or Millionaire do any thing for nothing. Think about It , they aren't spending money for nothing there getting something out this. NO SHOULD VOTE FOR ANYBODY BACK BY THE TEA PARTY, BECAUSE YOU WILL END UP WITH NOTHING. Michele Bachmann don't get any money if they don't give It to him , she would weather shut down the Government were all American People will pay for just so the TEA PARTY GET WHAT THEY WANT, this Is no way to run a GOVERNMENT, they should all way be Compromise between party. The TEA PARTY American people should get rid of, be for they get rid of us.